Jeff Neese

Yes, but would you buy a vintage aluminum bike to actually ride, not knowing how many miles (flex cycles) it already has on it? It could be ready to go at the next minor pothole. At least you don't have to worry about "lifespan" with steel.

Example. In the late 90's Cannondale made a full-on touring machine, the T1000, patterned after the original Trek 720, Miyata 1000, etc. It may have been fine when it was new and people probably did serious loaded touring on them at the time. But if you found one used now, would you load it up with gear and trust it on a cross-country trip? No, you should not. It may be and probably is at its end-of-life, at least if the bike was used for its intended purpose. (As a veteran of many thousands of loaded touring miles, let me tell you that it is very hard on a bike.) That old T1000 might have some good parts that could be used elsewhere, but I personally would never trust my life to a 20-year-old aluminum frame. With the afore-mentioned steel bikes, that is not even a consideration. And then there's ride and comfort, etc.

The same can be said of MTB, road bikes, just about anything in between. It's the steel ones that are the keepers. And returning to the original intend of the thread, there are differences among steel materials and frame construction, although there doesn't seem to be consensus on just when steel bikes "peaked".

Here's a picture from about 30 years ago - me and my 1982 Trek 720, solo touring northern Michigan. I don't have the bike anymore, but there's every reason to believe it is still going strong, as good as it was back then. (The same cannot be said of the man, however). This was back when Reynolds 531 was the big thing, and of course being handbuilt by Trek in Waterloo made it special.

I would never do this on an aluminum bike, new or used.

towndock

I've enjoyed this thread. I hope that doesn't make me a bad person.

RobbieTunes

If I do win the lottery, and it's enough, I'll sponsor a team.
Until then, I race with Walter Mitty on steel that hasn't peaked yet.

crank_addict

For starters, there's 30 year old aluminum bikes hanging in garages that rarely were used. So in that respect, I don't see anything wrong for one wanting.

Second, old steel bikes-
Some take on hidden condensation and unseen corrosion.

Also, I toured for years on a Fuji S12-s LTD. Had some crazy scary occasions when that rig was loaded. Mountain's do hellish things to rider and bike. Not too bad of a ride but fleeeeexy! There's a limit on all sorts of bike frame material including steel.

Bandera

I have an AL frameset that has become Vintage by attrition, it was raced when new and is still in regular service decades on.
No worries.

As always, suit yourself.

-Bandera

Trakhak

Perhaps you're unaware that steel tubesets from Reynolds, Columbus, Tange, Ishiwata, etc., were assigned weight limits by the manufacturers; e.g., Columbus SL was rated for a 180-lb rider, SP for a 200-lb rider, etc. When I was racing in the 1970s, it was taken for granted that the top riders would expect their frames to last no more than one season.

Further, Cannondale aluminum frames have been shown to outlast steel frames in stress tests simulating hard use over multiple seasons.

I've seen broken frames made of all materials, but I've seen more steel frames break from fatigue than aluminum frames. Frame designers have an easier time designing an aluminum frame that's both light and durable.

Anecdotal contribution: much of my riding since 1987, on and off road, has been on a Cannondale SM-500 mountain bike, I bought new when I worked at a Cannondale dealership. The (steel) fork is bent a bit from a collision with a tree in 1990. Frame seems fine. I'll trust it and my aluminum road bikes over any lightweight steel frame of unknown history.

crank_addict

Count me in. I'd like to be the nutcase aboard a Lotus 108.

ppg677

The 13.5lb Rodriquez bike uses True Temper S3 tubing. You can get a similar bike from Waterford (RS-33). It's likely to be flexy for a 275-pound rider. Likewise a frame built to handle a 275-pound rider will feel dead to a 120-pound rider.

RobbieTunes

You're half way there.

Kindaslow

How are we to know whether or not you were a bad person before enjoying this thread????

towndock

I'll never mention decaf again.

thinktubes 

IIRC these "limits" were in place prevent riding frames that had too much flex, not to indicate a failure point.

Trakhak

Never came across that information. Source?

I do remember being told by the Bianchi national sales manager in 1984 that the guys from Bianchi of Italy thought Bianchi USA offering lifetime warranties on the high-end frames was funny. (Bianchi of Italy offered no frame warranties at that time; maybe they do now.) The Italians said that, if desired, they would sell frames to Bianchi USA with a lifetime warranty, but they'd be 1 kg heavier.

RobbieTunes

I had tongue firmly planted in cheek. I could understand a category for old lugged carbon, though, as they have a place in time.

rekmeyata

Boy, it was a good thing the last poster just after the one above commenting on those remarks was deleted, that would caused quite an uprising.